Ford Enhances 2013 Super Duty Brakes, Towing

Strategic Improvements Ahead of Competitors' Updates

It's no secret the Ford F-Series trucks are the best-selling pickups in the U.S. The specific breakdown between the lighter-duty F-150 and the heavier-duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 models is a closely guarded company figure, so we can't decisively say if the Super Duty is the best-selling HD pickup, but based on the number you see on the road, it would be reasonable to presume that big brother is a strong seller too. To keep the Super Duty at the top of its game in the face of new HD models coming within the next 18 months from both Ram and GM, Ford improved on two key areas of particular importance to HD truck owners: brakes and towing.

Front and rear brakes on the 2013 Super Duty go from 13.66 inches to 14.29 inches, and rears increase from 13.39 to 14.29 as well. This represents a 16.4 percent increase in swept area in front and a 14.5 percent increase in the rear, or the available surface clamped by the brake pads. Brake feel is also improved through new pads and a re-tuned brake booster. Brakes on the 2013 GM HD pickups are 13.8 inches in front and 14.17 in the rear.

But these enhancements are for more than just driver satisfaction and bragging rights with your towing buddies. These changes result in an improvement of 500 lb in maximum towing capacity, improved payload capacity, and 700-lb higher gross vehicle weight rating.

Ram has not yet released specifications on its updated 2013 Ram HD trucks other than engine output, which climbs to a maximum of 385 hp and 850 lb-ft of torque for the new high-output 6.7-liter Cummins I-6 turbodiesel.